Court orders foreign student accused of sexual assault held

By Rich Chang / Staff reporter

Sat, Jun 22, 2013 - Page 3

The Taipei District Court reversed its own ruling yesterday, ordering the detention of a Turkish student accused of trying to sexually assault a Taiwanese student he met online.

He is also suspected of filming bedroom encounters with women without their knowledge.

The court on Wednesday released the student, identified only by his Chinese surname, Wang (王), on NT$200,000 bail, turning down a request by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office that he be detained on the sexual assault charge.

Prosecutors appealed the decision to the Taiwan High Court.

The district court summoned Wang for a hearing yesterday afternoon and subsequently ordered his detention after prosecutors presented evidence that a second woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by Wang.

The court said Wang was suspected of having committed serious crimes, there was evidence showing that he may have assaulted more than one woman and there was concern he might flee the country if not detained.

Wang cried upon learning he would be held in custody.

Reporters outside the courtroom were able to hear Wang saying in English: “I love this country” and that “I really love and respect people here.”

According to investigators Wang said he never forced any woman to engage in sexual intercourse and that he filmed the encounters for his own viewing, although he had also made copies of the tapes for the women.

Investigators who searched Wang’s residence said that they found 29 video files on his cellphone and computer showing him having sexual intercourse with different women.